Internal Lookup Tables

Internal lookup tables are part of a graph, they are contained in the graph and can be seen in its source tab.

Creating Internal Lookup Tables

To create a new internal lookup table, right click Lookups in the Outline Pane and select Lookup Tables > Create internal.

A Lookup table wizard opens. After selecting the lookup table type and clicking Next, you can specify the properties of the selected lookup table.

More details about lookup tables and types of lookup tables can be found in corresponding sections below.

• Simple Lookup Table
• Database Lookup Table
• Range Lookup Table
• Persistent Lookup Table
• Aspell Lookup Table

Or see Types of Lookup Tables.

Externalizing Internal Lookup Tables

Externalization is a conversion of an internal lookup table to an external one. The newly created external lookup table is linked to the original graph. So that you would be able to use the same lookup table within other graphs.

To externalize an internal lookup table into an external (shared) file, right-click the desired internal lookup table item in the Outline pane within Lookups group and select Externalize lookup table from the context menu. If your lookup table contains internal metadata or internal database connection, the wizard allows you to externalize them as well.

In the first step, choose a name for lookup table configuration and directory to be placed to. The lookup table configuration is usually stored in the lookup directory within the project.

If the lookup table uses internal metadata, you will export it in the second step of the wizard. You will be offered file name and meta directory to store external (shared) metadata.

If the lookup table uses an internal database connection, the wizard will guide you through export of the database connection. The suggested directory for database connections is conn.

After that, the internal metadata (and internal connection) and lookup table items disappear from the Outline pane Metadata (and Connections) and Lookups group, respectively, but at the same location, new entries appear, already linked the newly created external (shared) metadata (and the connection configuration file) and lookup table files within the corresponding groups. The same files appear in the meta, conn and lookup subdirectories of the project, respectively, and can be seen in the Project Explorer pane.

Externalizing Multiple Lookup Tables at Once

You can even externalize multiple internal lookup table items at once. To do this, select them in the Outline pane and after right-click, select Externalize lookup table from the context menu. The process described above is repeated until all the selected lookup tables (along with the metadata and/or connection assigned to them, if needed) are externalized.

You can choose adjacent lookup table items when you press Shift and then press the Down Cursor or the Up Cursor key. If you want to choose non-adjacent items, use Ctrl+Click at each of the desired connection items instead.

Exporting Internal Lookup Tables

Export of an internal lookup table creates an external (shared) lookup table as a copy of internal lookup table. The original lookup table is left untouched within the graph and the newly created lookup table is not linked.

You can export an internal lookup table into external (shared) one by right-clicking any of the internal lookup tables items in the Outline pane and selecting Export lookup table from the context menu. The lookup folder of the corresponding project will be offered for the newly created external file. You can change the file name and click Finish to create the file.

After that, the Outline pane lookups folder remains the same, but in the lookup folder in the Project Explorer pane the newly created lookup table file appears.

You can export multiple selected internal lookup tables in a similar way as it is described in the previous section about externalizing.

Externalizing vs. Exporting

Externalizing converts an internal object to external one. The external object is created and linked to the graph. The internal object is deleted. It is similar to move operation.

Export creates a new external object. The new external object is not linked to the graph. The internal object is still available. Is is similar to copy operation.